Rider safety: how to increase visibility?

As night falls, the risk of accidents involving bikers doubles. Motorists have been observed to be the first to suffer in the event of a collision. Except most of the time it's the lack of visibility coming from drivers with two wheels. Whether it's a denial of priority or a lack of attention, the rider is the one who bears the brunt of the damage.  

The principle of visibility should be visible to everyone on the road. This is the opposite of a bright light that will irritate other motorists. Manufacturers have recognized the importance of providing specific solutions to their customers. Therefore, they put on the market equipment to ensure the safety of everyone. In addition, they have improved the design so that each rider can find their own style and reveal their individuality. 

So how can a biker protect himself and show his presence on the road? What measures are there to make it safe? Here are our tips for increasing your visibility on the road.

And if you improve your lighting

The visibility of the motorcyclist is ensured by the headlight and taillight of his vehicle. Established by law, you must be equipped. This will detect the presence of the motorcycle at night. It is important that the bulbs work properly and that they are changed in case of malfunction. 

Take care of the bulbs

The efficiency of a light bulb is logical and will depend on 2 criteria that cannot be neglected. The first will be to configure it. The beam and the height of the optics must be the same. The brightness will be adjusted so as not to dazzle drivers crossing the road. 

Remember to clean your optics regularly. Indeed, the brightness of your bulbs will be less if they are dirty or covered with dust. It is important to change them at the slightest sign of weakness or once a year. 

If you use diode or xenon gas lamps, you do not need to change them every year. Motorcycle headlights are the first guarantee of visibility, it is important to make sure that they ensure your presence. 

Know that the law imposes standards on you and requires approved headlights. Xenon bulbs are certainly in vogue and have many advantages, but are illegal if they are low beam.

Lantern configuration

The configuration of your lights is also an important criterion. Maneuvering your car is more risky when you run into a motorcyclist who only has a center headlight. Thus, a vertical or mixed position will improve the visibility of the two-wheeled vehicle. This will be clearer if the car has a center headlight and two headlights on the fork. Color coding also enhances your road presence. 

Researchers have tried out the best way to tweak your lighting. They concluded that colored lighting and vertical placement of your lights provide better visibility for your safety. However, the color you choose must comply with the regulations.

Let's talk about your helmet

Like any self-respecting biker, you always wear a helmet. It is imperative that every time you drive it must be homologated. 

Approved helmet

This essential biker gear can save lives. Did you know that 54% of motorcycle accidents are related to brain damage? This obligation is defined by article R431-1 of the Road Code since June 28, 1973.

Each helmet must have a label on the chin strap. It will be green if it is a French standard, and white if it is European (the letter E and the number denoting the country from which the authorization was obtained). In France, these are the only 2 colors recognized for legal approval.

From a safety point of view, France puts reflective stripes on bikers. When you buy a helmet, you will find 4 reflective stickers. They will have to be glued on 4 sides. They are free and the seller can put them on for you. 

Be aware that if you feel like you are not wearing an approved helmet or reflective tape, you are breaking the rules. You may receive a fine of € 90 and a deduction of 3 points from your license.

LED helmet

There are LED helmets on the market. It is luminous and consists of an LED light guide and an accelerometer. This will detect the rider's speed and send a signal to the side or back of the helmet. 

Indicating a change in pace for other drivers, it offers 5 levels of light intensity. It attracts attention and also has a striking brightness during twilight. Rechargeable, it can work up to 2 hours a day. 

This security measure is not yet very popular in France, but given its security potential, it should not last long.

Other ways to be visible on the road

In addition to the safety measures required by law, motorcycle manufacturers offer other protection methods. These are effective products, but not very low-key. We're talking about dimensional visibility.

360 ° view

It tends to identify your vehicle's pattern as reflective materials. These come in the form of differently patterned stickers that you can attach to the rims or other supports of your motorcycle.

This highly customizable solution easily adapts to the size of where you will attach it. Thus, they provide an improved 360 ° view of the contours of your vehicle, that is, from all sides. 

It will be easy for you to let your style speak for all your accessories and on your motorcycle. You can choose from images, logos or just geometric shapes. The choice is really wide and anything is possible. 

The selected pattern is glued onto the reflective material and cut out. 360 ° visibility will keep your two-wheeled bike safe. It will be easy to recognize from all sides and for all other drivers.

Dress

Did you know that wearing light colors for cycling makes sense? Indeed, it allows you to increase your visibility on the road. In addition to jackets with reflective stripes, white has the same effect. 

You can also hang the LEDs on your backpacks for better visibility while driving. Manufacturers take the safety of bikers very seriously. They design accessories that are practical, fun, yet powerful and innovative. 

Remember that the first safety reflex for a motorcyclist is the care of headlights and equipment in general.